Download Deferment and Forbearance Forms

Deferments and forbearances are temporary suspensions of the obligation to repay federal student loans. To apply for a deferment or forbearance, the borrower must send the correct form to the loan’s servicer. The most common deferment and forbearance forms can be found below.

Continue making payments on the loans until the servicer sends written confirmation that the deferment or forbearance has been approved. If the borrower stops making payments before the deferment or forbearance is approved, the loan could go into default. Defaulted federal student loans are not eligible for deferments and forbearances.

Less than full-time but at least half-time (for borrowers who, on the date they signed the promissory note, did not have an outstanding balance on a Federal Family Educational Loan (FFEL) program loan made before July 1, 1987)

Parent PLUS Loan borrowers who are themselves enrolled in college may use this form to obtain a six-month grace period on the Parent PLUS Loan after they drop below half-time enrollment (for Parent PLUS Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2008)

Borrower documents eligibility for or receipt of unemployment benefits, or

Borrower is unemployed or working less than 30 hours per week and diligently seeking full-time employment and registered with a public or private employment agency if one exists within 50 miles of the borrower’s current address

Borrower must have an outstanding balance on a federal student loan that was first disbursed before 7/1/1993 or had an outstanding balance on at least one federal student loan made before 7/1/1993 when the borrower received a loan first disbursed on or after 7/1/1993 and

Borrower is temporarily totally disabled, or

Borrower is unable to secure or maintain employment because borrower is caring for a spouse or dependent who is temporarily totally disabled

For Parent PLUS Loan borrowers whose loan was first disbursed on or after 7/1/2008:

While the dependent student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school and during the 6-month period after the student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment

For Parent PLUS Loan borrowers whose loan was first disbursed on or after 7/1/1987 and before 7/1/1993 or who had an outstanding balance on a FFEL program loan first disbursed before 7/1/1993 when a loan was obtained on or after 7/1/1993:

While the dependent student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school (full-time only for borrowers who were new borrowers as of 7/1/1987)

While the dependent student on whose behalf the parent borrowed the Parent PLUS Loan is engaged full-time in a rehabilitation training program

Military Service Deferment. For the duration of qualifying military service (may be limited to 60 months) and ending 180 days after the completion of the military service.

Post-Active Duty Student Deferment. For the period beginning with the completion of qualifying active duty service and any applicable grace period, ending when the borrower resumes enrollment at an eligible school on at least a half-time basis or 13 months following completion of active duty service and any applicable grace period.

Borrower is performing qualifying service as a full-time teacher at an elementary or secondary school or educational service agency.

Borrower must be a new borrower as of 10/1/1998, meaning that the borrower does not have any loans made before 10/1/1998 and did not have any loans made before this date on the date the borrower received a loan on or after 10/1/1998.

Administrative staff, such school librarians and guidance counselors, are not eligible.

Borrower is in a medical or dental internship or residency program and is either not eligible for or has exhausted eligibility for a deferment.

Borrower is a member of the National Guard who has been called to active duty status by the governor for a period of more than 30 consecutive days and qualifies for a post-active duty student deferment but does not qualify for a military service deferment.

Borrower is performing service that qualifies for partial repayment under the U.S. Department of Defense Student Loan Repayment Program.

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Download Deferment and Forbearance Forms

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